United for Iran: Blog2019-03-14T00:51:54+00:00https://united4iran.org/en/blog/index.xmlUnited For IranUnited for Iran Calls for Nasrin Sotoudeh’s Immediate Releasehttps://united4iran.org/united-for-iran-calls-for-nasrin-sotoudehs-immediate-release2019-03-13T20:51:54-04:002019-03-13T20:51:54-04:00Iran’s Judiciary has issued a harsh new prison sentence for Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prominent human rights attorney and women’s rights advocate. On March 11 and 12, Reza Khandan, Sotoudeh’s husband,…Iran’s Judiciary has issued a harsh new prison sentence for Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prominent human rights attorney and women’s rights advocate. On March 11 and 12, Reza Khandan, Sotoudeh’s husband, reported that prison officials informed Sotoudeh that Judge Mohammad Moghiseh has sentenced her to 33 years in prison and 148 lashes on seven charges.

However, United for Iran could not confirm the actual length of the sentence or how many years Sotoudeh would be required to serve.

“Judge Moghiseh has an appalling record of denying defendants the right to a fair trial and punishing activists and artists for peaceful acts of expression,” said Firuzeh Mahmoudi, United for Iran Executive Director. “Nasrin Sotoudeh has dedicated her life to defending human rights and we call for her immediate and unconditional release.”

As of Wednesday March 13, some ambiguity remained as to the length of Sotoudeh’s sentence. Judge Moghiseh, without mentioning Sotoudeh by name, has claimed in state media that the sentence was for seven years. Moreover, according to Article 134 of Iran’s New Islamic Penal Code, defendants with multiple counts should serve no more than the maximum punishment for the charge that carries the heaviest sentence. However, if the defendant is convicted of more than 3 charges, the judge could sentence the defendant to the prison term that is 50 percent more than the charge that carries the heaviest sentence. According to Khandan, her most severe prison sentence is 12 years for the charge of “promoting corruption and debauchery.”

“Sotoudeh’s outrageous conviction is yet another example of the dark pattern of human rights abuses Judge Moghiseh is famous for,” said Mahmoudi.

Moghiseh has sentenced more political prisoners and prisoners of conscience than any other sitting judge in Iran. According to U4I’s Iran Prison Atlas, Moghiseh has sentenced 260 political detainees to at least 1300 years in prison and 900 lashes since 2011. During the same period, he has sentenced at least 50 people to death.

Sotoudeh was sentenced in absentia. She refused to appear in court in protest to being denied the right to choose her own attorney and the unjust judicial process. She is currently serving a 5-year sentence from 2018 on another set of charges similarly related to her human rights work. Both of Sotoudeh’s convictions are open to appeal.

Sotoudeh is a fierce advocate of women’s and human rights. She has represented several women who protested compulsory hejab, which lead to her most recent arrest in June 2018. Authorities have since charged and convicted her for a variety of offenses all based on peaceful activities including membership in human rights organizations, advocating for abolishing the death penalty, criticizing the judiciary for not allowing defendants to choose their lawyers, and briefing diplomats on Iran’s human rights conditions.

Sotoudeh previously spent three years in prison after representing dissidents who were detained following the disputed Iranian presidential elections in 2009. A UN working group found that specific detention illegal under international law and the European Parliament awarded Sotoudeh its top human rights prize.

“Ms. Sotoudeh’s conviction is solely due to her peaceful human rights work. Every day that she is behind bars marks a new injustice,” said Mahmoudi.

]]>Rafael PaschoalMy last emailhttps://united4iran.org/mylastemail2019-01-30T16:16:39-04:002019-01-30T16:23:35-04:00Dear friends, It is with great love and consideration that I’m writing to let you know of my future plans; after a year of deliberation and thoughtful transition, I will be…Dear friends,

It is with great love and consideration that I’m writing to let you know of my future plans; after a year of deliberation and thoughtful transition, I will be resigning as United for Iran’s Co-Director at the end of this month.

Working at United for Iran and serving the Iranian people has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. I joined U4I in 2012 as a young activist, having recently left Iran. I had been compelled to flee due to harsh government crackdowns on pro-democracy activists. I was introduced to United for Iran’s work through a network of other Iranian advocates outside the country. I learned about U4I’s effort to document the cases of political detainees: the prisoners’ names, why they had been arrested, and how they were being treated in Iranian courtrooms and prisons. At the time, some of my close friends were in prison for their advocacy and membership in pro-democracy student organizations like Daftar-e Tahkim Vahdat. I felt compelled to join U4I’s efforts immediately.

In the last seven years, we have done a lot together. Today, the Iran Prison Atlas (IPA) is the most comprehensive source for learning about Iran’s political prisoners. We also launched IranCubator, a mobile app incubator to create social good apps for improving lives in Iran. We asked individual activists and established organizations to join us. Today, IranCubator apps have served half a million Iranians. There have been many other projects and collaborations in which we have advocated for fair elections, freedom of speech and expression, the safety of activists and much more.This is neither an end of my activism nor an end of my support for United for Iran. I would not have been able to move to the next chapter of my life if it wasn’t for the great respect I have for people that make United for Iran so special, including my friend, and United for Iran’s Co-Founder and Executive Director, Firuzeh Mahmoudi. It is because of her and my other colleagues that work for and support United for Iran that I’m confident U4I’s best days are ahead of us.
In a few weeks, you will learn about new team members, skilled and experienced activists, who are joining U4I.

Lastly, I want to express the depth of my gratitude for your support. I know you hear this often, but none of our work would have been possible without you. You have had our back in every way that we have needed support. Thank you.

“We urge the Government to immediately and unconditionally provide Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Narges Mohammadi with access to the appropriate treatment and care they have repeatedly requested in light of their serious health concerns,” the experts said.

Ms. Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a dual UK-Iranian national, has been denied appropriate health care by the Iranian authorities for lumps in her breasts, severe neck pain, and numbness in her arms and legs, her husband has said. She has also been denied appropriate mental health care from outside Evin Prison.

Ms. Mohammadi, an Iranian human rights defender, has been denied appropriate health care for over a year despite suffering from a pulmonary embolism, related blood clots, bleeding and repeated seizures, people with knowledge of her situation have said. She also requires follow-up treatment for a gall-bladder operation.

The experts expressed alarm that the denial of appropriate health care has compelled Ms. Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Ms. Mohammadi to start a hunger strike in protest. The experts deplored footage aired on national television of Ms. Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s arrest in a documentary soon after her announcement that she would begin a hunger strike.

“The authorities must urgently address the violations that are the basis of their hunger strike protest, including denial of appropriate treatment and care, which may well amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, or even torture,” the experts said.

The experts also pointed to the findings of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and reiterated calls for the immediate release of Ms. Mohammadi and Ms. Zaghari-Ratcliffe. In separate opinions, the Working Group found that the two women had been arbitrarily detained.** Ms. Mohammadi and Ms. Zaghari-Ratcliffe have been detained since May 2015 and April 2016 respectively.

The experts stated that the situation of Ms. Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Ms. Mohammadi is emblematic of numerous reports received related to the denial of appropriate treatment and care of imprisoned individuals in Iran, and urged the authorities to ensure appropriate treatment and care is afforded to all those in need of it.

The experts said that as a party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Government has an obligation to respect the right of all persons, including prisoners, to have access to health services. Further, the universally accepted ‘Mandela Rules’ on treatment of prisoners specify that all prisons shall ensure prompt access to appropriate medical attention. The experts further recalled that as a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Government has an obligation to protect the right to life.

The UN experts have previously notified the Government of Iran about their concerns.

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

** On 21 September 2016, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found that the detention of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arbitrary and called for her release (see A/HRC/WGAD/2016/28). Similarly, on 22 September 2017, the Working Group also found that the detention of Narges Mohammadi was arbitrary and called for her release (see A/HRC/WGAD/2017/48).

]]>Rafael PaschoalChoose U4I on #GivingTuesdayhttps://united4iran.org/choose-u4i-on-givingtuesday2018-11-27T12:17:36-04:002018-11-27T12:17:52-04:00Today is Giving Tuesday, a day dedicated to generosity. United for Iran’s work was founded and continues to succeed because of the generosity of supporters like you. When you express…

Today is Giving Tuesday, a day dedicated to generosity. United for Iran’s work was founded and continues to succeed because of the generosity of supporters like you. When you express your support in the form of a small donation, you help some of Iran’s most vulnerable communities. These are some of the ways you are helping the people of Iran:

1. You are Standing Up for Iran’s Political Prisoners
Iran has at least 800 political prisoners. Iranian officials go to lengths to hide that they are arresting people simply because they spoke out against a policy, attended a peaceful gathering, or practiced a faith other than what is deemed acceptable by the Islamic Republic. Our researchers work hard every day to confirm and record the identity of Iran’s political prisoners so that despite the Islamic Republic’s efforts, there is a record of the injustice that these men and women face.

2. You are Protecting Women’s Rights
Iranian women and girls are legally subordinate to men in many aspects including inheritance, marriage, divorce, and child custody. However, there is a way around some of these legal hardships that few women know of or have the resources to pursue. Marriages in Iran are contractual, the terms of which can be determined by the couple beforehand. United for Iran’s Hamdam mobile application offers women legal support and provides users easy to follow sample language to be included in their marriage contract. Once the suggested language is added, the rights are legally binding and women have the right to make decisions about their own education, work, and travel after marriage and can get a divorce with relative legal ease.

3. You are Supporting Women’s Health
Comprehensive and unbiased sexual health information is not readily available in Iran. While the Iranian government provides little sex-education, the information is limited and only available to young married couples. The Hamdam mobile application aims to level the playing field by offering unbiased sexual education to any Iranian with a smartphone. The application provides easy to understand information on STDs, contraception methods, and breast cancer screenings. Hamdam is also the only mobile application that allows Iranian women to track their period and ovulation cycle using the Persian Jalali calendar, a solar calendar that is used in Iran.

4. You are Offering a Compassionate Hand to Recovering Addicts
About 2.8 million Iranians are regularly consuming drugs. The government’s efforts have not sufficiently addressed the epidemic that has affected millions of Iranian families. The Haami mobile application provides compassionate and trusted support for people struggling with substance abuse, along with their friends and family. The app offers a range of resources and educational information for those involved.

5. You ar‌‌‌e Providing Protection to Human Rights Defenders
The Islamic Republic of Iran continuously targets human rights defenders. The people in Iran who care to report individual incidents or systematic abuses of power are at high risk of arrest and abuse. Our mobile application Hafez allows human rights defenders to securely record and report violations. Users also have access to an extensive digital rolodex of attorneys and their areas of expertise, so they can attain quick legal representation when needed.
6. You ar‌‌‌e Supporting Victims of Domestic Violence
According to a survey carried by the Iranian government, 63% of women in Iran have experienced domestic violence, including 12% who reported that their abuse had become life-threatening. The Toranj mobile application quickly connects victims of domestic violence with the resources and support they need to be safe, both in the present-moment and long term. The app offers various social and legal tools, including made-for-mobile educational resources, a legal support handbook, tools for self-assessing romantic relationships, and a database of free counseling centers and pro-bono law firms.
7. You are Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is difficult to discuss, especially with children. Unfortunately, children in Iran, like many children all around the world, are not immune from the dangers of sexual abuse. With the Michka mobile application, we’ve offered Iranian parents a tool to make this difficult conversation a little bit easier. Michka brings the issue of sexual abuse to children’s attention in a language and framework that is appropriate and understandable for them. The application is a game and e-book for children ranging from 6 to 12 years of age.You are helping transform lives each and every day. Without your support, this work would have not been possible. If you can, please make a tax-deductible donation to continue your support.

]]>Rafael PaschoalCivil Society Organizations Urge UN to Push for Human Rights in Iranhttps://united4iran.org/dozens-of-civil-society-organizations-urge-un-to-support-human-rights-in-iran2018-11-13T13:36:10-04:002018-11-13T13:46:53-04:00The undersigned national, regional and international civil society organizations urge your government to support resolution A/C.3/73/L.42 on the promotion and protection of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran,…The undersigned national, regional and international civil society organizations urge your government to support resolution A/C.3/73/L.42 on the promotion and protection of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has been presented to the Third Committee in the framework of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly. This annual resolution provides an opportunity for the General Assembly to take stock of human rights violations in Iran over the last year and the many other human rights concerns that remain unaddressed in the country, as detailed in reports recently issued by the UN Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, and offers key recommendations for how the Government of Iran can better implement its national and international human rights obligations.

We echo the Secretary-General’s observation that this year has been “marked by an intensified crackdown on protesters, journalists, and social media users”, in the wake of the wave of protests that erupted across Iran in December 2017 and continued into 2018. The Iranians authorities have stepped up their repression of the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, jailing hundreds of people on vague and broadly worded national security charges. Those targeted include peaceful political dissidents, journalists, online media workers, students, filmmakers, musicians and writers, as well as human rights defenders, including women’s rights activists, minority rights activists, environmental activists, trade unionists, anti-death penalty campaigners, lawyers, and those seeking truth, justice and reparation for the mass executions and enforced disappearances of the 1980s. In a worrying development, the Iranian authorities this year arbitrarily arrested and detained, prosecuted and imprisoned on spurious criminal charges lawyers representing civil society activists and others charged for politically motivated reasons. Judicial authorities have denied detainees accused of national security-related charges access to a lawyer of their choice, particularly during the investigation process.

The resolution also acknowledges the positive steps taken by the Government, including putting into effect an amendment to the country’s drug law which has resulted in fewer executions for drug-related offenses being carried out in the country.

Nonetheless, Iran’s wide use of the death penalty remains of great concern. Iranian law still retains the death penalty for a wide range of drug trafficking offenses. Iran also continues to use the death penalty for vaguely worded offenses such as “enmity against God” (moharebeh) and “spreading corruption on earth” (efsad-e fel arz), which do not amount to an internationally recognizable criminal offense. The death penalty is also retained for acts that should not even be considered crimes including some consensual same-sex sexual conduct and intimate extra-marital relationships. The penal code also continues to provide for stoning as a method of execution.

Also deeply concerning is Iran’s continued use of sentencing to death and executing those who were under the age of 18 at the time of the crime. Despite repeated condemnations by UN bodies, to date in 2018, the Iranian authorities have executed at least five people who were under the age of 18 at the time of the crime of which they were convicted; according to Amnesty International, at least 85 others remain on death row and the real number could be much higher. This horrific practice is a flagrant violation of Iran’s human rights obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as under customary international law and requires urgent action by UN member states.

We, as civil society actors, believe that the UN’s ongoing engagement is necessary in order to press Iran to undertake long-overdue reforms and respect the human rights of all in the country. The Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur have repeatedly stressed that various laws, policies, and practices in Iran continue to seriously undermine the fundamental rights of the people of Iran, including their rights to life; freedom from torture and other ill-treatment; fair trial; freedom of religion or belief; peaceful exercise of the freedom of expression (online and offline), association and assembly; and equal enjoyment of all to education, to health and to work.

Violence and discrimination, in law and practice, against individuals on the basis of gender, religion, belief, ethnicity, language, political opinion, sexual orientation and gender identity, among other grounds that are universally recognized as impermissible under international law, also remain widespread and continue to be sanctioned by laws, policies and government practices.

Women and girls experience pervasive discrimination, in law and practice, and receive little or no protection against cruel, inhuman or degrading practices, including domestic violence, marital rape, early and forced marriage and forced veiling.

In addition, the systematic persecution of Baha’is continues unabated. Other religious minorities including Christian converts, Yaresan (Ahl-e Haq) and Sunni Muslims also face systematic discrimination. This year the authorities have subjected Gonabadi Dervishes to a harsh crackdown, with hundreds arrested and subjected to torture and other ill-treatment, and over 200 sentenced after grossly unfair trials to harsh prison terms, floggings, internal exile, travel bans, and/or a ban on membership of social and political groups. Ethnic minority activists, including Arabs, Baloch, Kurds, and Azerbaijani Turks have also been subjected to widespread patterns of abuse and serious violations of their rights.

Further to this, Iran has, by and large, failed to implement key recommendations by UN human rights bodies. For instance, torture and other ill-treatment at the time of arrest and in detention, including prolonged solitary confinement, continue to be committed on a widespread basis and with complete impunity. Judicial authorities also continue to impose and implement sentences that constitute cruel, inhuman or degrading punishments, including floggings and amputations, which amount to torture.

Cooperation with UN human rights mechanisms is lacking. The Government’s engagement with these entities, including the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, has been cursory. Despite the Government’s issuance of a standing invitation to the UN Special Procedures in 2002 and dozens of UN recommendations urging the Government’s cooperation with them, pending requests for country visits from 10 thematic procedures remain unaddressed. No special procedure has been allowed to visit Iran since 2005. Furthermore, individuals, including human rights defenders, have faced reprisals on the basis of real or perceived contact with UN bodies.

The continued attention of the international community is required to ensure Iran upholds its international human rights obligations. By supporting resolution A/C.3/73/L.42, the UN General Assembly will send a strong signal to the Iranian authorities that the promotion and respect of human rights is a priority, and that genuine and tangible improvements to the situation are expected to ensure the dignity inherent to all persons in Iran.

Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights

All human rights for all in Iran

Amnesty International

Arseh Sevom

Article 18

ARTICLE 19

ASL19

Association for Human Rights in Kurdistan of Iran – Geneva

AHRAZ – Association for the Human Rights of the Azerbaijani people in Iran

]]>Rafael Paschoal7 things you need to know about human rights in Iranhttps://united4iran.org/7-things-you-need-to-know-about-human-rights-in-iran2018-11-05T12:15:19-04:002018-11-05T12:15:43-04:00Iranian citizens face injustice every day. Here are seven of the most major human rights violations you should know about. 1) Systematic crackdown on peaceful activists, journalists, and artists Iran…

Iranian citizens face injustice every day. Here are seven of the most major human rights violations you should know about.

1) Systematic crackdown on peaceful activists, journalists, and artists
Iran continuously targets and detains the small but vocal community of human rights defenders by charging them with national security crimes. Currently, at least 880 individuals are behind bars, many for lengthy prison terms, simply for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly.

2)Widespread use of torture as an “investigative tool”
A significant number of convictions in Iran are based solely on the defendant’s “confession.” Even though there have been many cases of death shortly after arrest, Iranian authorities usually claim suicide as the cause of death and those responsible are never brought to justice. Former political and non-political detainees, attorneys, and others have told U4I extensive tales of how they were subjected to torture in detention.
3) Iran remains one of the world’s top executioners
Hundreds of people are put to death in Iran annually. Many are hung in gruesome public hangings. In a positive step, Iran eased the death penalty for many drug-related charges earlier this year. However, it continues to execute for other offenses following grossly unfair trials. In January 2018 alone, at least 3 juvenile offenders were executed.
4) Systematic discrimination against women
Iranian women and girls are legally subordinate to men in many aspects including inheritance, marriage, divorce, and child custody. They face entrenched discrimination in education, employment, earnings and income, and access to public spaces.
5) Arrests of women’s rights defenders
Iran has been arresting women activists for decades. In July, Shaparak Shajarizadeh, one of the Daughters of Revolution Street who peacefully protested Iran’s obligatory hijab rule by removing her headscarf in public, was sentenced to two years in prison in addition to an 18-year suspended prison term. Prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who represented Shajarizadeh and other women arrested for opposing the compulsory hijab, was arrested in June and is currently behind bars.
6)Inhumane or degrading punishment
Iranian courts continue to impose sentences of flogging as punishment for many offenders, including those who are detained for improper hijab. Amputations are also carried out as punishment for crimes including theft.

7) Entrenched religious discrimination
Iran’s Baha’i community is subjected to extensive and pervasive discrimination that threatens their life, liberty, and livelihood. Authorities even arrest and harass clerics and congregants of Muslim minorities including Sunni Muslims and the Gonabadi Dervishes Sufi Order. Dozens of activists belonging to religious minorities are serving long prison terms on national security charges.

We work on your behalf to bring attention to these issues everyday and offer solutions like the Iran Prison Atlas and the IranCubator apps. Thank you for your continued support.

]]>Rafael PaschoalWorld Day 2018: Death penalty; the Kurds in Iran are the main victims of execution according to the United Nationshttps://united4iran.org/world-day-2018-death-penalty-the-kurds-in-iran-are-the-main-victims-of-execution-according-to-the-united-nations2018-10-10T18:23:55-04:002018-10-10T18:24:23-04:00The Kurds constitute the main victim of Iran’s machine of executions according to the United Nations. Only in the three latest months of July, August and September 2018, 32 Kurdish…The Kurds constitute the main victim of Iran’s machine of executions according to the United Nations. Only in the three latest months of July, August and September 2018, 32 Kurdish citizens were executed according to the data collected by the KMMK-G.

Despite International Community and the Special Rapporteur for Iran with with the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions strong call for the Government to halt the imminent executions of three Kurdish prisoners, Zanyar and Loghman Moradi, and Ramin Hossein Panahi amid serious concerns that they did not receive a fair trial and were tortured in detention, the Iranian authorities have executed them on 8th of September.

Both reports of the UN Special Rapporteur for Iran to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly in 2017 express serious concerns about disproportionate executions or imprisonment of Kurdish prisoners.

According to the Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran (A/HRC/34/65), published on 6 March 2017, “79. Violations of the rights of ethnic minorities continue to be reported in the country. Almost one fifth of the executions that took place in Iran in 2016 concerned Kurdish prisoners. Among those executions, 21 were related to the crime of “moharebeh” (serious offences, caused by a lethal weapon) and one to the membership in a Kurdish political party. Kurdish political prisoners are said to represent almost half of the total number of political prisoners in Iran ».

The new report of Dr. Javaid Rehman the new Special Rapporteur of Iran (A/73/398) published on 27 September 2017, also express concerns about disproportionate executions or imprisonment of large percentage some ethnic minority groups in Iran. “29. More broadly, the Special Rapporteur notes that reports of his predecessor have described how some ethnic minority groups in Iran constitute a disproportionately large percentage of persons executed or imprisoned. In its comments on the most recent report of his predecessor, the Government dismissed such statistics as ‘completely misleading, distorted and inaccurate’. With a view to engaging in a dialogue on this issue with the Government, the Special Rapporteur proposes that the Government conduct an impartial and objective investigation confirming number of persons executed from minority communities. Without prejudice to the outcome of such an investigation, if the numbers of executions from minorities communities are disproportionate, then the Special Rapporteur recommends that the Government conduct further investigations and inquires as to the reasons for such disproportionate numbers and undertake appropriate remedial actions. In comments provided on this present report, the Government stated that according to Article 19 of the Constitution the people of Iran, of any tribe or affiliation, enjoy equal rights, including during all stages of criminal proceedings. “

On Monday 8th of September, we have also learned that the death penalty Hidayat Abdollapour, a Kurdish political prisoner, was upheld by the Iranian Supreme Court. Mr. Hedayat Abdollapour was for the second time sentenced to death by Urmia Revolutionary Court on charge of “cooperation with a Kurdish opposition party” on 18th of January, 2018.

On the occasion of the 2018 World Day 2018 against the Death penalty; we call on the international community to put pressure on Iran to stop the execution machine against the Kurdish citizen in the country.

]]>Rafael PaschoalWe’re Improving Iran Prison Atlas!https://united4iran.org/were-improving-iran-prison-atlas2018-09-12T13:59:23-04:002018-09-12T14:00:50-04:00We are making important changes to the Iran Prison Atlas (IPA). IPA is the largest database of Iran’s political prisoners, the judges that convict them and the prisons’ that hold them.…

We are making important changes to the Iran Prison Atlas (IPA). IPA is the largest database of Iran’s political prisoners, the judges that convict them and the prisons’ that hold them.

In the last 7 years, United for Iran’s researchers have spent thousands of hours gathering data on political prisoners: who they are, why they were targeted, and how they have been treated in Iranian courtrooms and prisons. Unfortunately, and not surprising to the activists in the field, a grim picture has been revealed during this research: Iran systematically relies on it’s judicial system to silent dissenters.

Showing a detailed yet cohesive image of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s systematic abuses is challenging, specially because we want to be able to see the populations that are targeted based on their ethnicity, religion, gender, the activities that lead to their arrest, the charges that were brought against them, and the mistreatment they have been subjected to.

The majority of Iran’s political prisoners are ethnic and religious minorities. After solitary confinement and denied contact with family and legal council, torture and physical mistreatment are the most common violations that they face.

Today, Iran is holding at least 880 political prisoners. Each one of these men and women have been subjected to injustice. People like Abdulfatah Soltani, a human rights attorney who after almost 9 years of imprisonment, was finally granted furlough, only to attend his 30 year-old daughter’s funeral. Zeinab Jalalian, a Kurdish activist who is losing her eyesight due to mistreatment in prison, and Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman who has been behind bars for more than 2 years on charges that were pulled out of thin air.

By hearing their stories, recording, and sharing them‌ we hope to offer these prisoners a platform to seek the justice that Iran’s judicial system denies them.

We hope the new updated site will be completed by the end of this year.

GENEVA (7 September 2018) – UN human rights experts* have appealed to Iran to halt the imminent executions of Iranian Kurd prisoners Zanyar and Loghman Moradi, amid serious concerns that they did not receive a fair trial and were tortured during pre-trial detention. They also reiterated calls to halt the execution of Mr. Ramin Hossein Panahi.

“We urge the Government of Iran to immediately halt their executions and to annul the death sentences against them in compliance with its international obligations,” the experts said in a joint statement, following reports that they will be executed on 8 September.

“We are alarmed by information received that Zanyar and Loghman Moradi suffered human rights violations before and during their trial, including torture and other ill-treatment and denial of access to a lawyer,” they said. The two men are cousins.

“The death sentences were imposed after judicial proceedings which do not appear to have fulfilled the most stringent guarantees of fair trial and due process, which are required under international human rights law,” the experts said.

They also expressed concerns over the condition of Zanyar Moradi who has reportedly suffered serious health complications since his initial period of detention when he was repeatedly tortured and ill-treated.

The experts also expressed concern after receiving information indicating that another Kurdish prisoner held at the same prison, Mr. Panahi, will be executed at the same time. They reiterated previous calls to halt his execution and annul his death sentence in light of the reports that he did not receive a fair trial and has been tortured in detention.

Zanyar and Loghman Moradi were arrested in August 2009 for the alleged murder of the son of an Imam in Marivan, Kurdistan province. Reports received indicate that they were detained at Sanandaj Intelligence Detention Centre for a period of nine months after their arrest. During this time, no formal charges were brought against them, and they were unable to challenge the legality of their detention. They were subjected to torture and other ill-treatment including severe beatings and being tied up in restricted stress positions. They were also threatened with rape in order to compel them to confess to the murder. They were subsequently transferred to a number of other locations and thereafter to Raja’i Shahr prison in Karaj in December 2010 where they have since remained on death row.

In December 2010, Branch 15 of the revolutionary court in Tehran sentenced them to death by public hanging on charges related to moharebeh (“enmity against God”) and involvement in the murder. The trial apparently lasted only 20 minutes and they were denied access to a lawyer during the pre-trial and trial proceedings. During the trial, they both denied the charges in court and explained that they had confessed to the crimes only due to torture following their initial arrest. The Supreme Court subsequently upheld their convictions, and no investigation was undertaken into the claims of torture.

Zanyar Moradi has suffered severe chest and back pain, as well as a broken rib following the ill-treatment he was subjected to and has been admitted to hospital on a number of occasions as a result during his imprisonment.

The two individuals were reportedly transferred to solitary confinement on 5 September, their families were requested to visit them, and their access to telephones have been restricted, raising fears of their imminent execution.

ENDS

*The UN experts: Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and Javaid Rehman, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent of any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

]]>United For IranWe’ve Been Honored by YBCAhttps://united4iran.org/weve-been-honored-by-ybca2018-08-14T15:40:34-04:002018-08-17T12:13:53-04:00I’m honored to share that I have been selected by Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) as one of the 2018 YBCA 100. The award is granted to people,…I’m honored to share that I have been selected by Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) as one of the 2018 YBCA 100. The award is granted to people, organizations, and movements that are using their platforms to move society forward. Its an acknowledgment of our current efforts and its future impact on our community.

We have been recognized alongside an inspiring list of activists, artists and organizations who are utilizing their craft and platforms to create a culture that awakens personal and societal transformation. The honorees include:

The students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. After a national tragedy, these young students rose to become the faces and voices of their community. They confronted local and national leaders on their position on gun control and formed the #NeverAgain movement.

Civil rights activist Tarana Burke. Burke laid the foundation for the Me Too movement in 2006. While her efforts gained the national spotlight only last year, she has been pushing to put the focus back on survivors of sexual harassment and assault for more than a decade.

Michael Berkowitz, President of 100 Resilient Cities, an offshoot project of the Rockefeller Foundation. Berkowitz’ program is dedicated to helping cities around the world become more resilient to twenty-first-century physical, social, and economic challenges.

I’ll have the privilege of joining the other honorees during a ceremony later this year. I’m grateful for all the opportunities that this recognition brings to our future work.

Thank you for choosing to support United for Iran.

Onward,

Firuzeh Mahmoudi
Executive Director, United for Iran

]]>United For IranUnited for Iran Condemns Execution of Mohammad Salashttps://united4iran.org/united-for-iran-condemns-execution-of-mohammad-salas2018-08-14T12:54:06-04:002018-08-14T12:54:06-04:00Dear friends, In the early hours of Monday June 18th, Iranian authorities executed Mohammad Salas, a 50-year-old Sufi man from the Gonabadi Dervishes Order, disregarding grave concerns about the fairness…Dear friends,

In the early hours of Monday June 18th, Iranian authorities executed Mohammad Salas, a 50-year-old Sufi man from the Gonabadi Dervishes Order, disregarding grave concerns about the fairness of his rushed trial.

Mr. Salas was accused of driving a bus that hit and killed three police officers in February and was sentenced to death a month later. According to reports, key evidence which could have proven his innocence was rejected.

“By executing Mr. Salas, Iran has displayed its utter disregard for basic standards of a fair trial,” says Firuzeh Mahmoudi,United for Iran’s Executive Director. “This case, as the cases of hundreds of other political prisoners in Iran,demonstrates that Iran’s judiciary does not conform to the basic principles of a justice system,” says Mahmoudi.

Mr. Salas’ case had raised many legal concerns, including reports that he had been tortured, denied access to his attorney of choice and held incommunicado. According to reports,Mr. Salas was not allowed to present eyewitness testimony that he had been arrested prior to the murders and was already in detention when the policemen were killed.

“Unfortunately the miscarriage of justice that Iranian authorities have displayed in this case is seen over and over, as we have documented in our Iran Prison Atlas. It has become evident that Iran’s judiciary serves as a tool to remove, silence, and intimidate dissidents and minorities,” says Mahmoudi.

Iranian authorities buried Mr. Salas’ body before informing his family of his execution. He was buried in Borujerd, hundreds of kilometers away from Tehran where his family lives. Mr. Salas’ family had requested for an autopsy to document the injuries they believed he had incurred while being tortured. By burying Mr. Salas, the authorities have effectively denied the request.

United for Iran opposes the death penalty in all cases regardless of the nature of the crime or defendant’s culpability. We call on Iran to abolish the death penalty and commit itself to fundamental principles of justice.

In solidarity,

Mahdieh Javid
Communications Director

]]>United For IranU4I Concludes 1st Round of IranCubatorhttps://united4iran.org/u4i-irancubador-complete2018-08-14T12:50:40-04:002018-08-14T12:51:48-04:00Dear friends, I’m pleased and honored to share that United for Iran is successfully concluding the first round of IranCubator, our app incubation project to promote civil liberties in Iran.…Dear friends,

I’m pleased and honored to share that United for Iran is successfully concluding the first round of IranCubator, our app incubation project to promote civil liberties in Iran.

In the last 18 months, we developed about one dozen mobile applications—some of which were released without any public connection to U4I to reduce potential security risk. To date, IranCubator apps have been downloaded over 550,000 times; and users in Iran have spent more than 111,000 hours learning, connecting and receiving support from these apps.

Our apps offer solutions on a range of issues including challenges to women’s rights, women’s sexual and reproductive health and informed political participation. They also offer support and protection for victims of domestic abuse, recovering addicts, human right defenders, and children at risk of sexual abuse.

While we have been humbled to see the sheer number of individuals these apps have served, the personal story of users have constantly reminded us why we began this effort in the first place:

We received many letters from parents who had experienced sexual abuse when they were children and decided to share the Michka app with their children to better protect them.

We received testimonies from people who were anxious they might have contracted an STD but feared to see a doctor. They were grateful for the Hamdam app for offering clear, and unbiased information about symptoms, risks, and prevention methods.

We were contacted by recovering addicts, some of which had struggled with sobriety for many years, sharing how the Haami app had helped them stay sober and made them feel cared for.

A domestic violence survivor wrote us a detailed and heartfelt account of her abusive marriage and the strength she had to gather to get a divorce when the law was not on her side. She shared how she now tells everyone about the Toranj app in case they can benefit from it as well.

We feel privileged to have joined the global movement to expand human rights through technological advances, and these testimonies further prove how necessary that intersection is. We are convinced that the marriage of technology and human rights will take us to the future we want.

We will make share to keep you in the loop on the future progress of these apps, and our other efforts to improve human rights and expand freedoms in Iran.

Hafez aids and protects human rights defenders by enabling them to securely record and report incidents of human rights violations.

Sandogh96 provided Iranian voters with accurate, unbiased and up-to-date candidate and election information ahead of the May 2017 elections.

]]>United For Iran7 Ways You are Helping the People of Iranhttps://united4iran.org/7-ways-you-are-helping-the-people-of-iran2018-02-28T12:32:49-04:002018-02-28T12:32:49-04:00With your support, we have been able to help more people than many thought possible. Two years ago, we decided to use technology to improve social welfare. We dreamed big…With your support, we have been able to help more people than many thought possible. Two years ago, we decided to use technology to improve social welfare. We dreamed big and had an inkling that, with your backing we will go beyond what many believed to be possible. Here are only some of the ways you have helped the people of Iran live better lives:

1.You are Supporting Women’s Health

Comprehensive and unbiased sexual health information is not readily available in Iran. While the Iranian government provides some sex education, the information is limited and only available to young married couples. The Hamdam mobile application aims to level the playing field by offering easy-to-access and unbiased sexual education to any Iranian with a smartphone. The application provides easy to understand information on STDs, contraception methods, and breast cancer screenings.

Hamdam is also the only application that allows Iranian women to track their period and ovulation cycle using the Persian Jalali calendar, a solar calendar that is used in Iran.

2. You are Protecting Women’s Rights

Iranian women are denied many basic rights. Married women in Iran surrender some of their legal rights to their husbands — rights to education, work, travel, divorce and even custody of their children. However, there is a way around these legal hardships that few women know about or have the resources to pursue. Marriages in Iran are contracts, the terms of which can be determined by the couple beforehand. Hamdam provides easy to follow sample language to be included in marriage contracts.

Once the suggested language is added, the rights are legally binding and women have the right to make decisions about their own education, work and travel. They also can get a divorce with legal ease if they are in an abusive or unhappy relationship.

With about 180,000 downloads for Hamdam, Iranian women now more than ever are empowered to better protect their rights.

3. You are Offering a Compassionate Hand to Recovering Addicts

The number of people suffering from drug addiction in Iran has more than doubled in the last six years. About 2.8 million Iranians are regularly consuming drugs. The Iranian government provides some support to recovering addicts. However, their efforts have not sufficiently addressed the epidemic that has affected millions of Iranian families. Because drug addiction remains a cultural taboo, asking for help is a major challenge for recovering addicts.

The Haami mobile application provides compassionate and trusted support for people struggling with substance abuse and their friends and family. The app offers a range of resources including the tried and trusted roadmap to sobriety through Narcotics Anonymous’ Basic Text and other educational information. Haami also has sections that help recovering addicts dial back compulsion and provides a rolodex of recovery centers in Iranian cities and provinces.

Iran has at least 645 political prisoners. These are the cases that our Iran Prison Atlas researchers have been able to confirm. Some of Iran’s bravest citizens and most dedicated human rights advocates are among these prisoners.

Iranian officials try hard to hide why these men and women are in prison and how they are being treated. Some officials have gone as far as claiming Iran does not have ANY political prisoners. Our researchers work every day to document the cases of people unjustly arrested, tried and imprisoned—in direct violation of their fundamental rights— to make sure their voices are not silenced. We record their tales so that the Iranian government knows that the world is bearing witness.

5. You ar‌‌‌e Supporting Victims of Domestic Violence

According to a survey carried by the Iranian government, 63% of women in Iran have experienced domestic violence, including 60% who experienced emotional abuse, 34% who had either physical abuse or sexual abuse from their husbands, and 12% who reported that their abuse had become life-threatening.

The Toranj mobile application quickly connects victims of domestic violence with the resources and support they need to be safe, both in the moment and long term. The app offers various social and legal tools to help women protect themselves and their families—even ones designed to ensure the health of their relationships. This includes made-for-mobile educational resources, a legal support handbook, tools for self-assessing romantic relationships, and a database of free counseling centers and pro-bono law firms.

6. You are Empowering People at Risk of Violence to Ask for Help

Toranj’s utility is not only limited to victims of domestic violence. The app enables any user at risk of violence to request for immediate help.

During emergencies, Toranj lets users reach out to a group of trusted and pre-selected contacts with just a few taps to a user’s smartphone. Depending on the situation, users can choose from various pre-written text messages to simultaneously ask their friends or family to come and intervene, call the police, or take other steps of assistance. The app also allows users to send their location directly to the police.

With about 50,000 downloads for Toranj, Iranians at risk of danger are more than ever empowered to ask for help.

7. You are Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is difficult to discuss, especially with children. Unfortunately however, children in Iran, like many children all around the world, are not immune from dangers of sexual abuse. With the Michka mobile application, we’ve offered Iranian parents a tool to make this difficult conversation easier.

We consulted a group of psychologists and child development experts in creating Michka. The application is a game and e-book for children 6 to 12 years of age.

Michka brings the issue of sexual abuse to children’s attention in a language and framework that is appropriate and understandable for them. As we have previously shared with you, the response from parents and children to Michka has been overwhelming.

]]>United For IranUnited for Iran Calls for an Investigation in Kavous Seyed-Emami’s Deathhttps://united4iran.org/united-for-iran-calls-for-an-investigation-in-kavous-seyed-emamis-death2018-02-15T11:37:05-04:002018-02-15T11:37:05-04:00Environmental activist and academic Kavous Seyed-Emami was buried this week in Iran. According to the Iranian authorities, he had committed suicide in Evin prison after two weeks in detention, during…Environmental activist and academic Kavous Seyed-Emami was buried this week in Iran. According to the Iranian authorities, he had committed suicide in Evin prison after two weeks in detention, during which he had been denied visitation with his family and access to an attorney. According to reports, authorities refused to allow for an independent autopsy of his body.

“The Iranian authorities’ conduct and their deliberate attempts to hide the circumstances of Mr. Seyed-Emami’s death is deeply alarming,” United for Iran Executive Director Firuzeh Mahmoudi said. “The unanswered questions about the circumstances of Mr. Seyed-Emami’s death, and the unfortunate reality of widespread mistreatments in Iranian prisoners raises serious doubt regarding his cause of death. We are deeply concerned that by refusing to allow for an independent autopsy, the Iranian authorities are attempting to hide evidence of mistreatment, torture, and possibly murder.”

Mr. Seyed-Emami, an Iranian-Canadian dual citizen, was one of the founders of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, which aims to protect Iran’s wildlife. He was arrested and transferred to Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison last month. According to a statement published by Mr. Seyed-Emami’s son, his family was threatened by Iranian authorities and told that speaking to the media about their father’s arrest would cause him more harm. Within two weeks time, the authorities informed Mr. Seyed-Emami’s family that he had committed suicide.

Several other members of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation remain in jail.

“We call on the Canadian government, and the international community at large, to duly pressure the Iranian government to allow for an independent investigation into Mr. Seyed-Emami’s death, and the arrests of other environmental activists,” said Firuzeh Mahmoudi.

Kavous Seyed-Emami’s death is the third death in detention that the Iranian authorities are declaring to be a suicide ‌since December 2017. A fourth death, also in detention, remains unexplained by the authorities.

United for Iran has documented the treatment of political prisoners in Iran Prison Atlas (IPA) for the past 6 years. According to the IPA, there are at least 692 political prisoners behind bars in Iran today.

]]>United For IranDefenders of human rights in Iran mourn the passing of Asma Jahangirhttps://united4iran.org/defenders-of-human-rights-in-iran-mourn-the-passing-of-asma-jahangir2018-02-11T09:15:23-04:002018-02-13T14:55:04-04:00It is with great sadness that we heard of the death of Ms. Asma Jahangir, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran. She passed away on February 11,…It is with great sadness that we heard of the death of Ms. Asma Jahangir, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran. She passed away on February 11, 2018, and defenders of human rights, particularly those in Iran, mourn her death.

Iranian society lost one of the most vocal champions of its rights, its fundamental freedoms, and its fight for dignity. Since her appointment as Special Rapporteur on Iran by the UN Human Rights Council in September 2016, she has brought the voices of victims of human rights abuses to the United Nations, and supported a stifled but vibrant civil society. Ms. Jahangir called for vital human rights reforms, and took urgent action on a large number of cases, affecting many lives in Iran.

For all of us defenders of human rights in Iran, she was a companion in the struggle for a more just, free and equal Iran. As she leaves us today, we want to celebrate and remember her courage, her energy, and her passion for the cause of rights, equality and respect for everybody’s dignity, in Iran, in Pakistan, and beyond.

Our thoughts are with her friends and family, in Pakistan and around the world.

Respectfully,

Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation

All Human Rights for All in Iran

Arseh Sevom

ARTICLE 19

Association for Human Rights of the Azerbaijani People in Iran (AHRAZ)

Association of Human Rights in Kurdistan of Iran-Geneva (KMMK-G)

Center for Human Rights in Iran

Center for Supporters of Human Rights

Ensemble Contre La Peine de Mort (ECPM)

European Ahwazi Human Rights Organization (EAHRO)

Human Rights Activists in Iran

Impact Iran

Iranian Queer Organization (IRQO)

Iran Human Rights

Iran Human Rights Documentation Center

OutRight Action International

Siamak Pourzand Foundation

Small Media

United for Iran

]]>United For IranWe Moved Twitter to Actionhttps://united4iran.org/we-moved-twitter-to-action2018-02-07T11:25:21-04:002018-07-19T10:59:41-04:00We have great news to share! Twitter has accepted our call and now provides improved account protection to users in Iran. Twitter made the change after thousands of you joined us in…We have great news to share! Twitter has accepted our call and now provides improved account protection to users in Iran.

Last month we asked you to join our campaign, pressuring Twitter to better protect Iranian protesters. More than 17,000 of you joined us in this call. Following that, Twitter updated its policy and now allows Iranian users to set-up two-factor authentication with their phone numbers. Two-factor authentication protects the user’s information including their identity and their direct messages.

The issue of users’ account security is especially sensitive in an authoritarian regime like Iran where the government has a long history of unlawfully accessing activists’ accounts to gather evidence against them. Once the authorities arrest an activist, they use the information to pressure him into making statements against himself and others.

We applaud Twitter for amending its policy.

Thank you for giving your voice to this important cause. We hope to share more great news like this soon.

]]>United For IranNew Protection for Iran’s Brave Activists: the Hafez Apphttps://united4iran.org/new-protection-for-irans-brave-activists-the-hafez-app2018-02-02T11:24:20-04:002018-02-14T11:25:01-04:00Withholding information is the lifeline of tyranny. Today, we are proud to announce the release of Hafez, IranCubator’s latest app, which is designed to protect, empower, and inform human rights…Withholding information is the lifeline of tyranny. Today, we are proud to announce the release of Hafez, IranCubator’s latest app, which is designed to protect, empower, and inform human rights defenders.

Last month, Iranian forces killed at least 25 protesters, and arrested thousands more. The authorities quickly shut down citizens’ main communication channels to block mass protests. They also wanted to prevent the news of the protests and the government’s violent crackdown of the protesters from getting out.

When we decided to build Hafez more than a year ago, we knew—because of the Iranian government’s long history of wide scale human rights violations—that sooner or later they would launch another massive crackdown on dissidents. We partnered up with the Human Right Activists News Agency (HRANA) to build technology for human rights defenders. Today, anyone with an Android phone, which is the majority of people in Iran, can download Hafez to:

Record and securely report incidents of human rights violations;

access an extensive digital rolodex of attorneys and their areas of expertise, so they can attain quick legal representation;

receive the latest human rights-related reports and news without needing to use internet censorship circumvention tools; and

access critical legal material and information.

The security of our users is our number one priority. You can review Hafez’ extensive security report, carried by the cybersecurity firm Cure53. Once a user closes the app, all the information reported, will be deleted. Furthermore, thanks to the donations you made in January, HRANA will hold a series of security training sessions for advocates interested in documenting human rights violations.

While defying government repression is never risk free, Hafez is designed to provide human rights defenders with additional layers of protection to address their strategic needs. We hope the app can further empower Iran’s brave activists who risk their liberty and life everyday for freedom.

]]>United For IranWhat’s new at United for Iranhttps://united4iran.org/whats-new-at-united-for-iran-22018-01-29T11:21:50-04:002018-02-14T11:22:25-04:00Sharing the Knowledge of Activists with Protesters As protesters took to the streets in cities large and small in Iran, the security forces responded by violence and mass arrests. At…Sharing the Knowledge of Activists with Protesters

As protesters took to the streets in cities large and small in Iran, the security forces responded by violence and mass arrests. At least 25 people were killed and—according to an Iranian official—3700 people were detained. As reports of mass arrests began surfacing, we knew that many protesters would benefit from the guidance offered by activists in our Safe Activism guide.

We used our networks to make sure those at risk of arrest had access to critical information on:

How to minimize the risk of arrest;

What to do if they are arrested; and

How to mitigate the consequences of incarceration.

Safe Activism was produced in 2016 in collaboration with 3 dozen experienced Iranian activists who had been imprisoned in recent years. This guide, which was also translated to English to help dual-nationals at risk of arrest, offers critical information on recovering after detention.

The Iran Prison Atlas team has begun producing more detailed reports about misconducts by Iran’s Judiciary and security apparatus. In the last 6 years, IPA researchers have shared thousands of hours of data gathering in a platform that enables you to see an overview of how Iranian authorities treat political prisoners. We see the treatment of political prisoners as the litmus test for human rights conditions in Iran, because these prisoners are often activists who are at the forefront of advocating for human rights.

In November, the Iran Prison Atlas began presenting some of its findings in a new way: the Atlas is publishing more in-depth reports on specific cases of human rights violations related to political prisoners. IPA’s most recent report was published on the anniversary of mass arrests in Balochestan in southeastern Iran. This case presents a deeply troubling example of how Iran’s security forces use their power to maintain an atmosphere of fear and suppress dissent.

IranCubator application Michka will be republished as a children story by a publication in Iran.

Michka is a game and e-book designed to help Iranian parents protect their children from sexual abuse. Michka’s Designer and Project Manager Sahar Shams is currently raising funds to make the app available to English and Spanish speaking children. As with the Persian app, the English and Spanish Michka will be free.

Michka tells a tale of how children can talk to their parents about difficult subjects.

Using language that is appropriate and understandable for children, Michka tells a story of a gender-neutral insect who is touched inappropriately by an adult insect. The app’s content has been reviewed and approved by a number of psychologists and child development experts and has been warmly received by Iranian parents and children.

United for Iran Executive Director Firuzeh Mahmoudi was a keynote speaker at Wired Magazine’s annual two-day festival in London. Firuzeh used the platform to share United for Iran’s lessons in utilizing technology in advancing basic rights. She spoke to a room full of inspirational leaders. Wired Magazine also featured United for Iran’s efforts in their November issue.

We joined Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, alongside Iran focused human rights organizations, and asked member states of the United Nations General Assembly to pass a resolution on Iran’s human rights record. The UN General Assembly passed the resolution, making this year the 15th year in a row that the UN condemns the Iranian government’s human rights record and calls on Iran to adopt long-awaited reforms.

]]>United For IranTwitter Policies Harm Iranian Usershttps://united4iran.org/twitter-policies-harm-iranian-users2018-01-17T13:06:26-04:002018-01-17T13:06:26-04:00As I shared last week in an op-ed in WIRED, the practices of Silicon Valley tech companies are putting the safety of Iranian activists at risk. I’m emailing you today to…As I shared last week in anop-ed in WIRED, the practices of Silicon Valley tech companies are putting the safety of Iranian activists at risk. I’m emailing you today to ask you to support our petition and ask Twitter to protect Iranian protesters.

Twitter denies Iranian users the account protection that almost all other users enjoy.

Twitter generally allows users to enable two-factor authentication for their accounts by entering a phone number and then receiving a verification code via text message. Two-factor authentication makes it difficult for unauthorized users to access an account and therefore protects the user’s information including their identity and their direct messages.

Iranian authorities have a long history of attempting to access activists’ accounts, especially after they arrest an activist. The authorities attempt to gather evidence against the arrestees by unlawfully accessing their accounts to pressure them into “confessing.”

According to Iranian officials, 3,700 people were arrested in Iran’s recent protests. Given the scale of the arrests, it is evident that many of the detainees are peaceful protesters. What is worse is that Iranian authorities have a highly troubling record of torturing and mistreating prisoners—one which we documented in a large scale study last year.

Help this petition succeed by taking a moment to tell your friends why it’s important. Here are some examples on how you can share this information:

@Twitter policies are putting the safety of Iranian activists at risk. Join me by adding your name to this petition and asking Twitter to offer the people of Iran the same level of protection it offers almost all other users: https://goo.gl/Y281wb

Despite years of advocacy by Iranian NGOs, tech companies continue to deny services to Iranian users that would better protect their safety. Join me in asking @Twitter how it can do better: https://goo.gl/Y281wb

]]>United For IranUN rights experts call on Iran to halt execution of second juvenile offender in two weekshttps://united4iran.org/un-rights-experts-call-on-iran-to-halt-execution-of-second-juvenile-offender-in-two-weeks2018-01-16T11:36:01-04:002018-02-14T11:32:50-04:00GENEVA (16 January 2018) – UN human rights experts* have appealed to Iran to halt the execution of Abolfazl Chezani Sharahi, who was 15 when he was sentenced to death.…GENEVA (16 January 2018) – UN human rights experts* have appealed to Iran to halt the execution of Abolfazl Chezani Sharahi, who was 15 when he was sentenced to death. He is due to be executed on Wednesday, less than two weeks after the execution of another juvenile offender.

“The Iranian authorities must immediately halt the execution of this juvenile offender and annul the death sentence against him and afford him a fair trial in compliance with their international obligations,” the experts said. “This planned execution represents a flagrant disregard for international human rights law, which is all the more shocking given the most recent execution of another juvenile offender.”

Abolfazl Chezani Sharahi is scheduled to be executed on Wednesday for a crime that he was convicted of committing at the age of 15. He was sentenced to death in 2014 after being convicted of murder for the fatal stabbing of a man during a fight. In sentencing him to death, the court cited an expert opinion that stated he had attained “mental growth and maturity” at the age of 15. The verdict was upheld by the Supreme Court later that year.

In 2015, he submitted a request for retrial on the basis of Article 91 of the 2013 Islamic Penal Code. The request noted that the medical commission assessing his maturity at the time of the crime did not include a child psychology specialist. The Supreme Court rejected the request.

In January 2016, the Committee on the Rights of the Child urged Iran to end the execution of children and persons who committed a crime while under the age of 18. Iran has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which unequivocally prohibit the passing and carrying out of the death penalty against anyone below 18 years of age.

Despite this, reports received indicate that there are at least 89 juvenile offenders on death row in Iran but the number could be much higher. On 4 January 2018, Amirhossein Pourjafar, a juvenile offender who was sentenced to death aged 16, was executed despite multiple interventions from human rights experts. At least four juvenile offenders were executed in Iran last year.

The experts deplored the continuing executions of juvenile offenders in Iran in contravention of international standards, and urged the Government to end the practice of sentencing to death people below the age of 18 years of age when the crime of which they were convicted was committed, and to commute all death sentences issued against such individuals.

The Committee on the Rights of the Childis the body of 18 independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by its State parties. It also monitors the Optional Protocols to the Convention, on involvement of children in armed conflict and on sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography; as well as a third Optional Protocol which will allow individual children to submit complaints regarding specific violations of their rights

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.